No, the escrow issue is not caused by the escalator, but it is exacerbated by it by pushing the extremes farther out. As you say, the league figured most teams would spend toward the midpoint, but instead most of the league spends toward the high end. That largely creates the escrow problem. Bit escrow would be reduced if the NHLPA did not consistently use the escalator because the cap wouldn't be pushed so far away from expected (and in many years, actual) revenue.
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